Military Child Month

Dandy Dandelions and their Children    
Written by: Ashton Jenks


The dandelion had been recognized as the official flower of the military child as it symbolizes their tenacity and constant movement around the world. One study found that the average military child moves 6-12 times by the time they graduate high school. That’s a lot, and shows how military children develop extreme resilience.

To honor this commitment of the children of military members, April is designated as the month of the Military Child. Defense secretary Caspar Weinberger named April as the Month of the Military Child in 1986. Ever since then, it has been celebrated throughout military (DODEA) schools on a yearly basis. So, what can you do to celebrate the month of the military child along with many of your classmates who may have a family member in the military?

Firstly, you can wear purple on April 19 to support Purple Up Day!  The color purple was chosen because it represents all of the colors of the different military branches. For military kids, some places on Ft. Campbell will be offering discounts to students wearing purple to show support.

Another thing that you can do to support the month is to talk to you military friends about their experiences. It’s pretty tough moving so often and always feeling displaced so having someone show interest in them is always appreciated. You may even learn something, like what the inside of a C-17 cargo plane looks like!.

​In conclusion, although the month is generally not met with much fanfare, and has existed for just under 40 years, it is still an important part of American history and deserves recognition. How will you honor the children of American soldiers this month?

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